Induction at 38+6

[BEO]

Hi all. I have been booked in for an induction for 38+6 because baby is on 97th centile measuring approx 8lb 9oz today at 38+1.

I am booked for an induction Monday using the balloon which I am aware will be inserted then I can go home and return 24 hours later.

Guess I am looking for some positive stories as I am petrified and can’t stop crying, induction scares me so much.

They have said that if my cervix is too closed for the balloon I will have a section and also if it doesn’t open enough for waters to be broken then they will do a section. I am more worried about the induction than the possibility of a section so just stories on that please 🙈

Also I am aware I could decline the induction and wait and see but as this is my first baby I am very anxious anyway and being told she is huge does not help.

Hello
iv had two inductions they are not as bad as you think the only thing I can say is if your having pain relief make sure you know what you want because it is more painful than normal labour

OP - please try not to worry about higher pain levels because of being induced. I'm not aware of any robust, quantitative evidence to support that statement. It may be this poster's experience if she's had both induced and spontaneous labours, but it's certainly not everyone's experience and may not be yours. It's definitely good advice from Hollie23m to think about pain relief in any birth, but don't panic unduly about induction pain. It will be hard going either way but the reward at the end makes it all worth it ❤️

As a labour ward midwife I would say get yourself a TENS machine. They don't work for everyone but then it's only £30 waste. When they work it's amazing. They are best to start using in early labour.

I’d opt for the section, no way would I ever consent to being induced.

To be honest, I would go straight to c-section if I were you - anecdotally everyone I know including myself who was induced before their due date ended up with an emergency c-section. Induction seems to work well for those who are at their due date or over due - that's my experience though, perhaps the stats tell a different story. You have the right to request a c-section.

Thanks everyone. I am aware that people would chose to opt for a section straight away but as this is my first baby and pregnancy and no medical reason other than big baby I am going to try induction first.

I know I am petrified but there is no right or wrong choice and consultant has noted that if things don’t progress then I will have a planned section and has made this threshold low . So although ‘just go for a section’ is your advice it’s not really helpful as I have agreed to the induction 😊

I had an induction for my first baby, I wouldn't do it again. I'd opt for a planned C-section. Good luck OP 🩷

@BEO we are saying you can change your mind.

@MamaBearsss I know that I can change my mind thanks and I have been toying but am at peace with trying the induction.

I would look into hypnobirthing techniques to keep you calm. You need to be calm, the fact you can’t stop crying and feel terrified isn’t a good way to go into labour.

I recommend the positive birth company’s digital hypnobirthing pack, it also covers how to make induction better.

knowledge is power, good luck.

@MamaBearsss
i think it’s normal to be scared of having to have a baby? Whether it be vaginal or section.

I was crying my eyes out yesterday after being told my date and the shock of it all but it is sinking in now and I am in a better mind set thank you very much.

Slightly unrelated but I can recommend trying to express some colostrum for 30m a day as potentially helping 'ready' your body for birth.

I had gestational diabetes and joined a facebook support group. I was amazed that so many women on there had induction dates at say 38/39w but seemed to naturally go into labour before them.

We are all recommended to express as much colostrum as possible from 37w in case our babies are born with low blood sugars. I did that (got about 0.1m each 30 minutes - it's not easy) and to my surprise also went naturally into labour at 37+5 after first baby was born at 40w.

It's the only thing that you're not recommended to do before 37w I think as it can induce labour - so the inverse of that to me is, it can help bring on labour! Definitely worth a try. It's also handy having the colostrum on hand, even tiny amounts.

(My plan if I had to have an induction was to ask for a c-section based on the 'bishops score' - how ready my cervix was. If my cervix looked ready for labour, I'd give it a go. If it didn't, I'd ask for a c-section. Sounds like they will be offering you that clinical advice at the time anyway).

This is the pack
https://thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk/digital-pack

I agree with the hypnobirthing recommendation. Really helped me during my induction and I ended up coping with just hypno and gas & air, because of how helpful the breathing techniques were xx

Thank you @pjani ive actually been doing this since 36 weeks and have about 100ml so far 🙈 I am using a breast pump now to collect it as it’s easier and stronger to try to stimulate Labour.

I agree with you and the bishops score and that’s what I asked the consultant. 1) what if you can’t get the balloon in and 2) what if it doesn’t dilate me enough for ARM and she said then we would go for a section :) since my sweep yesterday I am feeling hopeful so just praying it’s more positive than negative but I guess no Labour is a walk in the park and even going into Labour naturally you can have issues and problems and need assistance. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

(My plan if I had to have an induction was to ask for a c-section based on the 'bishops score' - how ready my cervix was. If my cervix looked ready for labour, I'd give it a go. If it didn't, I'd ask for a c-section. Sounds like they will be offering you that clinical advice at the time anyway

Oh god, me too if there’s a next time! I should have known my induction was going to result in a “failure to progress” section when several sweeps were not even possible due to my cervix’s bishop score. (But please don’t read this ladies and think the same will happen.) I was also induced early for a first baby so my body’s first rodeo - and both my body and baby just clearly were not ready!

BTW my C-section was a dream. The induction was fine too (drip included), just didn’t work… What I will say though is that inductions make you absolutely shattered for the already shattering newborn days when they go on for days as mine did. Something to consider too.

Is there a reason you can't go full term..have you been diagnosed with a small pelvis?

My BFF is 5'2 and petite had 9-10.5lb babies naturally vaginally.

A csection? Why??? Wow so excessive. Unless medical emergency and you have a diagnosed small pelvis that is madness. Sorry.

@MixedCouple I am only 5 foot 3 and the consultant wasn’t happy letting me go to term and over when it is my first baby and we don’t know if I will be fine birthing a large baby or not. Which is why she wants to induce me before baby could grow another 1-2 lbs and be 9.5-10.5 lbs where the risks of SD increase.

I am aware I can ignore advice and go over my due date however as a FTM I am following the professional advice of my consultant.

I am also aware a section is major surgery which is why I am trying induction first.

@Dinax I totally agree I have friends who have had sections for failure to progress and they were all absolutely shattered by the time baby was born! But unfortunately I guess you don’t know if and how you will progress to make the call whether to have a section from the outset.

My consultant has said if they cannot insert balloon due to cervix being too closed or if I don’t dilate to have waters popped then I’ll go for a section, same thing if I fail to dilate so 🤞🏼

I had an induction for a big baby last time, also 5ft2 and I had fought quite a lot but still they tried to induce me at 39 weeks, by this point I has already been in early natural labour but the induction method and stress of the hospital brought me to a standstill. I ended up leaving, against their wishes to give me another week to at least get to full term before trying again. The next time they used the pessary, long story short my birth was ok, I had a lot of intervention and was so tired by the end of it but no trauma and a healthy 8lb8 baby was born.

I am pregnant again, and I have the comfort that the size of the baby was not an issue and so will be declining this time. The doctors did such a good job of convincing me that it was the right thing to do, and maybe the risks were minimised and of course everything turned out ok. I was more than happy to trust the doctors and midwives, however during that first labour I learnt to trust myself too, I think there can be a balance. When you don’t know what your body is going to do, I think it’s fair to want to minimise risk where possible, but definitely speak up when you feel it’s not right.

Also one thing with my first birth was that I was impatient, I was a little relieved they’d given me the option to be induced early so that I got to meet my baby earlier, but quickly learnt my lesson that that wasn’t worth it!

Yes you can never know how your body will respond. I will be considering these three things next time when they mention an induction and deciding if actually I would prefer the ELCS:

How long until my due date?
Can they even do a sweep this time?
Bishops Score
(Also take into account number of babies/vaginal deliveries.)

Good luck with it all!

Ps I should caveat that I totally agree in that I’d also go with medical advice - as I did last time.

@Dinax thank you!

my cervix looked favourable the other day so although she couldn’t actually sweep in the cervix she could feel my cervix and said the external opening was open which is good for this stage especially so fingers crossed, have another for Saturday 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Sounds like you've got a good plan and totally sensible listening to the advice of the medical professionals @BEO

Totally normal to be scared and nervous, it's a whole new crazy experience. Wishing you a quick and easy labour however it goes and a lovely healthy baby very soon